About the only thing AMA Supercross champions have in common is the claim to that title.

Bike technology, tracks and riders change. So when the Monster Energy series celebrates its 40th anniversary tonight on throw-back night at Angel Stadium, it’s only fitting that series champions Ryan Dungey and Johnny O’Mara celebrate their special link.

O’Mara, the 1984 champion, began working with Dungey before the start of the 2008 season.

“He made me physically and mentally stronger,” said Dungey, who said his experience with O’Mara helped prepare him for his 2010 championship run. “He kind of fit me in my sport. It was surprising. I never thought I would work with a guy like Johnny. It was some of the best times and some of the toughest times. I tried to get things right. I kept making a lot of mistakes. He helped me guide me through that time.”

Dungey was racing in the Supercross Lites class for Suzuki in 2007. He asked his Supercross series teammate, four-time series champion Ricky Carmichael, for help in preparing him to move up in class. Carmichael suggested O’Mara, the Simi Valley racer who trained him.

“He said, ‘What about Johnny O?’ I think you guys can work together,’” Dungey recalled. “I was like, heck yeah, He’s a champion with a championship mentality and seemed like a great guy. And he was.”

Dungey, from Belle Plaine, Minn., finished second in the Western Lites class that season with four victories. He won the Western Lites title in ’09 and then the Supercross series title in his rookie year in ’10.

“I had a couple of projects and a bunch of life things and I did not feel like I had the time,” O’Mara recalled. “But I decided to just meet with him and create some time. I’m really grateful for that opportunity. I really look up to him. He’s an amazing guy and I’m super proud of him for what he has accomplished.”

O’Mara, 52, who is a master-level mountain bike racer, routinely winning national events, trained him physically and mentally.

“It was a great year-plus,” he recalled. “I was pretty hard on him. I said I’m not going to sugarcoat anything. I’m just going to give you all my knowledge. He gravitated to all of it.”

Dungey admits that it was tougher than he thought it might be.

“Looking back it all, it was some of the best of times,” Dungey said. “He taught me a lot of life lessons for supercross and racing in general. When all was said and done, hands down he made me a better person. He made me more of a leader. Like I belonged here.”

O’Mara worked with 2009 series champion James Stewart for two years after working with Dungey. He is now working with amateur Thomas Covington.

“I’m always rooting for Ryan because I just think he’s the full package. He’s always sitting there, always consistent. He may not be the fastest guy, but he waits for the little mistakes.”

Dungey waited out the accidents in the season opener two weeks ago at Angel Stadium and finished second. He was third last week in Phoenix and enters Today’s race one point behind points leader and reigning series champion Ryan Villopoto.

“We’re off to a good start,” Dungey said. “We need to get some wins because once Ryan Villopoto gets rolling, he keeps it going.”

All 22 series champions will be at Anaheim today. Eighteen will be signing autographs at the Legends and Heroes display in the pit area in the afternoon. The other four champions, Villopoto, Dungey, Stewart and Chad Reed, will be racing later in the day.